It’s impossible to get through the movie Deadpool without at the very least a chuckle, but just because it is prized for its comedic efforts doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer us some incredible life lessons. A movie doesn’t have to be a drama or a romantic comedy to offer up some valuable takeaways. There are two very strong life lessons that we can take from Deadpool. These include the fact that we shouldn’t take life too seriously and that a sense of humor is key in dealing with any and all situations and that we should surround ourselves with people who truly care about us.
It’s obvious that the first life lesson would deal with having a sense of humor, but it really is something that a lot of us, as college students, need to remember. With “real life” approaching quickly and so many adult responsibilities piling up each year we progress in school, it is easy to start taking life a bit too seriously. Internships, job applications, leadership roles, you name it! There are too many things going on that require a balanced head on your shoulders and a scholastic driven brain.
Watching Deadpool reminds us that no matter how tough life gets or how many responsibilities pile up, there is always a punch line and a way to laugh at a situation. In the film, main character, Wade Wilson (Deadpool), played by Ryan Reynolds, goes through a series of pummeling negative life events. He is diagnosed with thyroid cancer, gets conned into agreeing to enter a “treatment program,” which then, in turn, ends up completely ruining his physical appearance.
Throughout all of this negativity, not once does Wilson lose his sense of humor. No matter how tough life gets, a sense of humor always lightens the mood of not only the people around you, but yourself as well.
The second lesson from Deadpool is to surround yourself with those who care about you. In Deadpool, Wilson has a fantastic group of friends and a fiancé who loves him. He has his best friend Weasel, his roommate Blind Al, and the X-Men figures Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead.
Weasel is a constant in Wilson’s life—before and after the mutation, Weasel is a loyal friend. Blind Al also proves to be a faithful friend to Wilson in that she never judges him and is always there for him. Lastly, the two X-Men figures, Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, are always looking out for Wilson and want the best for him. They aid him in his fight for revenge and try to teach him positive ways to deal with having unique “powers.”
We all need that best friend who is down for anything, a Weasel if you will, a friend who never judges your life decisions, a Blind Al, and a friend, or two, who act as a mom and try to steer you to do the right things, the X-Men figures. Another character in Deadpool who is pivotal in the plot of the movie and in Wilson’s life is Vanessa, his fiancé. She always has Wilson’s back and loves him regardless of his appearance. Her unwavering love is a driving force behind many of Wilson’s actions and thoughts.
In our lives, significant others, or even just a best friend, could fulfill this role. None of these friends of Wilson’s turn their backs on him when he changes: loyalty at its finest. Finding a group of loyal and true friends is important, especially in these four years at MU.
While we are here at college, we go through many “mutations,” obviously completely unlike Deadpool, but still mutations nonetheless. In college, we find out who we are, what we want to be, and where we want to go. But, it isn’t all that easy—we go through a lot of changing and morphing into who we really are. Finding friends and/or significant others that support us through our little mutations is extremely important.
So, while Deadpool seems to be, on the surface, just a hilarious adaptation of the popular Marvel comic, there is much more than meets the eye—or should I say funny bone?
IMAGE TAKEN from algonquincollege.com
